“I’m thrilled to have Greg join me in this performance event,” said McCarthy, who led ArtReach St. Croix through a transition to a regional footprint in 2007-2009. “With my new collection of poetry, Fall Risk. I wanted to come out to Stillwater first and celebrate with the community that has meant so much to me.”

“The concept of performance poetry is always alive in my imagination,” said McCarthy. “I believe it can be more rich for an audience to hear the poetry and music joined together. Plus, it’s more fun for me to work collaboratively in bringing imagery to life and it’s been particularly special for me to do so with Greg. We’re having a lot of fun putting this program together.”

Greg Herriges stirs a mix of original and traditional “progressive world music” on the bouzouki, a stringed instrument lesser known in the United States but most beloved in Greece. An award-winning composer and performer, Greg’s unique approach is influenced by Asian, Mediterranean, and other diverse traditions and has helped his music and writing to find international recognition.

Praise for “Fall Risk”

“Bill McCarthy is a fine poet, insightful, with a penchant for imagery and turns of phrase that remain in the memory, “oil-black feathers / fingering the air” “Maybe if I hadn’t gotten kicked out of cub scouts, I’d know my knots.” Many of them are short, just a few lines that invite consideration. Often there is an unexpected and often elegant turn at the end.

~ Loren Niemi, award-winning author of prose and poetry. His most recent book is, “A Breviary for the Lost, Poems from the During and After.”
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“I love the simplicity and clarity of Bill McCarthy’s poetry. Reading his poems is like walking from the shallow to the deep end of the pool. You’d better be prepared to swim.”

~Colleen Baldrica, author of the multi-awarding-winning “Tree Spirited Woman.”
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“Like a Zen monk gliding through a transcendental landscape, Bill McCarthy is a masterful and magical poet. In “Fall Risk” he takes us on an intimate journey of being and living our most real, raw, and authentic lives.”

~Kevin Cashman, bestselling author of “The Pause Principle” and Global Co-leader of Enterprise Leadership Development, Korn Ferry.
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“McCarthy’s latest book is a gem, filled with candor, ripe with wisdom, and beautiful in presentation. Welcome back Bill, to what you love.”

~ Jim Secord, creator/compiler of “Vintage Wisdom” and “20/20 Wisdom” both published by North Star Press. Prior to retirement, Jim was CEO of Lakewood Publications.